in Form I-526 and Form I-924 receipts prior to two potential regional center program sunset dates , the first in September 2015 and the other in December 2015 . Although these influxes of receipts hindered USCIS ’ efforts to reduce processing times in fiscal 2016 , the agency has taken many actions to improve overall efficiency , including concentrating resources to review and adjudicate aging cases , continuing to hire adjudicators and economists to reduce the backlog , improving operational efficiencies and engaging with stakeholders to inform them of operational updates , offering filing tips , and providing the latest statistics on each form type . to Congress for the Sept . 30 , 2016 , reauthorization deadline for the regional center program approaches , and continues to draft new potential regulations , and stands ready to provide guidance to the industry in the coming months .
EB5 Investors Magazine : What aspects of EB-5 can be improved ?
Rodriguez : USCIS works continually to improve all aspects of the EB-5 program . USCIS has focused significant effort on enhancing program integrity and has accomplished much to achieve that goal . USCIS has also provided technical assistance to congressional staff regarding key legislative enhancements to strengthen the program .
Additionally , USCIS is exploring potential regulatory action , including changes to make targeted employment area designations more consistent and to increase minimum investment amounts that have remained unchanged for 25 years .
Another area that USCIS seeks to improve is its ability to provide more refined estimates of the capital invested and the jobs created through the EB-5 program . Acting on a recommendation from the DHS inspector general , USCIS arranged for the Department of Commerce to conduct a valuation study of the EB-5 program to assess the investment and job creation impact of the EB-5 program . The results of this study should be published in the near future .
USCIS is also taking steps to improve processing times for all EB-5-specific form types . Last year , USCIS experienced notable surges
EB5 Investors Magazine : When you want improvement , how do you go about it ?
Rodriguez : USCIS is always striving to improve its administration and oversight of the EB-5 program , and continually seeks to identify and address changing program concerns . To improve the EB-5 program , USCIS will continue to use the administrative tools available to the agency and will continue to work with Congress regarding areas where statutory reform may be warranted and provide technical assistance to Congress as requested .
USCIS also recently held a listening session , in April 2016 , to receive individual feedback from stakeholders on potential EB-5 regulatory revisions and policy issues . Reforming the EB-5 program is
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